Australia off-spinner Todd Murphy says SCG pitch looks very green three days before fifth Test; feels pace may dominate once again, with spinners having a limited role
Todd Murphy during Australia’s practice session in Sydney on Thursday. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
Australia off-spinner Todd Murphy admitted that, although his eyesight isn’t great, he could see the SCG pitch looked very green three days before the fifth Test, once again raising questions about the role of spinners in this Ashes series.
Murphy, 25, is in contention to play his first Test in Australia after featuring in seven matches overseas. However, there is no certainty he will be selected for Sydney, a ground usually friendly to spin, especially after he was left out of the Melbourne Test that ended in just two days.
According to the images surfacing, the SCG pitch, ahead of the fifth Ashes Test starting on Sunday, is mostly green, increasing the chance Australia will again choose an all-pace bowling attack.
“I’ve only seen it from afar, and my eyes aren’t obviously amazing, so it’s hard to pick out exactly what it’ll be. But I suppose we’re three days out and there’s a bit of grass on it at the moment,” Murphy told reporters at the SCG on Thursday.
Murphy is very familiar with the SCG, as it is the home ground of the Sydney Sixers, and he also played there for Victoria in a Sheffield Shield match in November, where fast bowlers dominated.
“Maybe not recently, but I definitely think it can spin. We’ve played on some BBL wickets here where it has taken spin. I’ve only played a couple of Shield matches, and I don’t think it’s ever done anything extraordinary out there. I don’t think recently that it’s been a massive spin out here, but it’s still been a big part,” Murphy said.
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